Day 74 - 365/2014

Day Seventy-Four

I am acting as assistant to the producer of West of Center at the Northville Art House.  This is one of my very favorite local exhibitions and I am very excited about this -- although it means I won't be able to enter any of my own work into the show.  I simply cannot pass up the opportunity!

Today I picked up the first two entries at the NAH.

This is the 6th Annual West of Center All Media Show.  In a nod to our location, as well as our philosohy of bringing the community something unexpected, West of Center is an inspired effort to showcase contemporary artworks selected by a highly-regarded juror.

Here is a link for the printable Call for Entry for the show -- you don't need to be local to us to enter.  Deadline for entries to arrive at the Northville Art House is April 12 at 5:00 p.m.  And I am excited to report that the NAH is offering cash awards for the first - fourth place winners this year.

This year's Juror is Robert Schefman.  A native of Detroit, renowned fine artist Robert Schefman is currently the Chair of the Foundations Department, and Associate Professor at the The College for Creative Studies.  Robert holds a BFA from Michigan State University, and an MA in Sculpture and MFA from the University of Iowa.  His work, in both solo and group exhibitions, has been shown extensively in galleries and museums in New York and Michigan, (including the Detroit Institute of Art) and throughout the United States in numerous private and public collections.  He is represented locally by the Robert Kidd Gallery in Birmingham, MI.  Robert's work can be viewed at his website.

I hope you will consider entering this really great all-media juried show -- it is very well attended and gets great press coverage.  And, as mentioned earlier, we have cash awards this year.

365/2013 - Day 181

more gallery sitting

Today I kept Joanne company for the very very last day of West of Center and the beginning of artist art pick up.  I also got to spend a little time with Kurt.  We talked with more friendly people who dropped by the Northville Art House to see the show and to see what the Art House is about.

Joanne Bandoni is the person who has been the coordinator of West of Center for the last 4 years -- another fabulous show under her belt!

During slow times I worked on Tookies.

this is what I started with today

this is what I finished up with -- they just need the soft bottom edges...I can probably do those tonight

365/2013 - Day 180

what a great day!

Today was day two of my volunteer shifts for The Northville Art House during their biggest fundraiser of the year -- Arts & Acts.  Again today, I did some gallery sitting and talked to a whole bunch of lovely people who came to see "West of Center".  

Again today, I was very pleased to be be able to hang out at the Art House with the new Art House Store Mangager Patti Witte.  I am really enjoying getting to spend time with Patti and getting to know her.

But the best thing that happened today -- my piece from West of Center sold!  I won't go into details because I don't have the new owners' permission(s) but I just want to express how thrilled I am -- this is so out of the blue and SO appreciated!  First -- I am ecstatic that someone liked Quillz enough to want to purchase him.  Second -- I worked very very hard on Quillz and I am very happy that someone who can appreciate that is taking him home.  Third -- although I have sold artwork in the past, I don't recall ever selling a piece of my art directly from the show that it was in.  Fourth -- I am very pleased that the Northville Art House is getting a percentage of my sale...I love the Art House and I really believe in it and everything the Art House is about.  Fifth -- I am just SO happy!!!

early in the day -- Patti on the other side of the counter, taking on a last-minute task

later on -- Patti does a good "Vanna White" impression while putting the red SOLD dot on my label

Quillz -- now you behave in your new home, you!

ta-daaaaaaaaaah!

Oh man... I just thought of how tickled my sister Sue is going to be about this sale.  Sue sees me enter shows and is always very supportive...but she actually got to come to the opening reception and hear juror Matt Eaton talk about the jurying process.  Even though Sue might not always connect with my art she is always my biggest cheerleader.  This is going to make her really happy, too.

365/2013 - Day 179

gallery sitting day one

This is the weekend of Arts & Acts in Northville!  There is so much to do at the festival -- fine art, live music, children's activities, theater, poetry & short stories event, film festival, beer tent, food, and...and... 

A Summer Carnival is going on at Northville Downs at the same time as Arts and Acts.

It is also the final weekend to view the 2013 West of Center All-Media Contemporary Art Exhibit at the Northville Art House.  As an Art House volunteer (and Exhibit Committee member) I signed up to take a couple of shifts at the festival and I chose to do the gallery sitting on Friday and Saturday. 

I brought my sewing case with me and worked on Tookies finger puppets.  I had the privilege of talking with some folks who came to see the show.  One group was a couple of adults and two kids.  They were all very into the artwork but the kids really enjoyed looking at my Tookies.  And the littlest girl stayed in front of my table watching me...I mean right at the table.  I ended up offering the two kids a finger puppet each -- they seemed to really enjoy them.

This is my view of the gallery from my spot in the far corner...working on Tookies.

I completed the ears/horns on 5 camouflage print finger puppets -- and these are the 2 completed colorful Tookies I have left (of the 4 I had ready).

But I saved the best part for last...

Today I met the new manager of the Art House Store.  Her name is Patti Witte (pronounced "witty") and she is just great!  I was semi-concerned about who could fill Carla's shoes...Carla is such a major part of the Northville Art House and the Art House Store.  Patti is totally different from Carla -- and no one can replace Carla -- but I think Patti is the perfect choice to take on this multi-tasking/combination jobs position.

Introducing our new Art House Store Manager -- Patti Witte!

365/2013 - Day 159

a brief look at the art of West of Center (2013)

Today I went back up to the Northville Art House to get a better look at the art of West of Center -- the 5th Annual All Media Show juried by Matt Eaton and curated/produced by Joanne Bandoni.  This time around I only took a sampling of photos so that you can go and see the show in person...it runs through June 30 during regular gallery hours.  More information after photos.
 

a long overview

"Spirit of Bad Dolls" by Juana Moore -- SOLD!

"Quillz" by Took Gallagher -- his orange stripes turn yellow and his purple ears turn pink with the heat from your hands

"Should I?" (detail) -- by Amy Fell Burford

another view of Juana Moore's "Spirit of Bad Dolls"

"Ruin Reverberant" by Kate Paul

"Scrap Quilt Circa 2013" by Joan Potter Thomas

"Scrap Quilt Circa 2013" (detail)

"Hidden Secrets" by Peggy Kerwan

"Art of Fire" by WanChuan Kesler

"Varying Degrees of Penetration" by Joe Trippi

Joe Trippi's "Varying Degrees of Penetration" (detail)

"Subsistence" by Kyle Pryce

"The Eye" by Dattatreya Phadke

Dattatreya Phadke's "The Eye" (detail)

 

 

"Love Michigan" by Jeff Cancelosi

Jeff Cancelosi's "Love Michigan" (detail)

West of Center / 5th Annual All Media Show
June 7 - 30, 2013    Free   Regular Gallery Hours:  Wednesday - Saturday 1-5 p.m.

Northville Art House
215 W. Cady St.
Northville, MI  48167
(248) 344-0497

-  -  -  -  -

Today I am also trying to make a pair of black and white glass eyes for a possible plaster cloth guy.  This is not how I usually try to paint eyes, but I made the pupils with a Sharpie marker and globbed on white acrylic paint (I didn't have any white spray paint).  If I like how this turns out I may enter him to a local show with the theme "Black/White/Red"...but I'm not sure yet.  Deadline is quickly approaching so I need to decide/get to work!

And here is today's Tookies progress:  ten finger puppets have ears/horns, eyes, and mouths.

365/2013 - Day 158

wow

That's all I can say.  Wow.  West of Center is just fantastic.  I couldn't get very good many people/crowd photos because the lights were focused on the art -- as they should be.  I need to go back tomorrow and take pictures of the show itself -- it was so crowded and packed in tight.  Juror Matt Eaton was just wonderful, his talk was so down to earth and heartfelt.  And producer/curator Joanne Bandoni pulled off another flawless exhibition!

I was down at the other end of the room when Joanne Bandoni started her thank yous and introductions -- sorry for the zoomy/out of focus photo

Juror Matt Eaton delivering his talk

me, Quillz, and Matt Eaton

Matt with Juana's "Spirit of Bad Dolls" -- one of three recipients of special merit awards

now a few crowd shots...Carla and WanChuan

Punk and Andi

Joanne and her friend whose name I can't recall right now

Joan and Andy

Juana, Doug, Lina and Ken were arriving as we were leaving -- Juana had no idea she was going to be getting an award

What a wonderful (but very packed) show -- I saw other friends but didn't get photos.  I will go back tomorrow and shoot some of the artwork.  My head was just swimming from all of the people and good feelings and sounds and Matt Eaton's talk.

I started out my day by working on Tookies...I concentrated on the horns/ears of several of the new finger puppets.  I think I am getting a rhythm now...that is a good feeling.

365/2013 -- Day 154

day two of art intake

All I have to report for today is I helped Joanne Bandoni for a couple of hours during the second day of art intake for West of Center.  Joanne is the curator/producer of this exciting show.

My pal Kate Paul bringing in her work for the show

I really love doing intake at the Northville Art House -- you get to see the artwork early, but you also get to meet the artists!  And quite often, you actually already know some of them.  And it is even cooler when an artist doesn't know ahead of time that their artwork is on the postcard for the show...today Kate wasn't aware her painting was one of the three images chosen for this year's promo postcard...she was very happy.  

That is Kate's painting "Ruin Reverberant" on the lower right.  (My friend Peggy Kerwan's painting "Hidden Secrets" is on the left and "Hudson Hurricane" by Kurt Menhart is in the middle top.)

This is going to be one GREAT exhibition!!!  The show opens on Friday, June 7 from 6-9 p.m. and is free to the public (as always).  (Click the link below for the Northville Art House's Facebook page.)


Northville Art House
215 W. Cady St
Northville, MI  48167
248 - 344 - 0497

365/2013 - Day 153

alcohol inks and metal boxes

Today I tried out some alcohol inks with metal boxes, as well as some hand carved stamps and an ink pad meant for stamping on metal.  What I got was basically a big  mess...but maybe some potential.

And from 4-6:15 I helped curator/producer Joanne Bandoni (and her husband Kurt) with intake for the West of Center show that opens on Friday at the Northville Art House.  I love working intake for shows.

"Quillz" in a temporary spot on one of the pedestals...Juana's "Spirit of Bad Dolls" still in its box, delivery safely and in one piece.  Joanne is hanging the show later this week.

365/2013 - Day 151

a lot of sanding and painting...

...and making trips up and down the basement stairs, plus a little bit of sewing.  

That's what I did today after running errands.  It is so humid and rainy that I have to do the sanding and spray painting of the base for Quillz in the basement.  The very top of the metal pole got messed up when the spray paint spurted a bit when I first started, but I think I can sand it and repaint it in time.  Drop off for West of Center is on Sunday and Monday. 

I was planning on just painting the base white but the white paint in the store was blindingly white and I didn't want it that white.  I opted for the color I did so that it would be a color you can just barely see, but it is a color rather than off-white.  It is also helpful to me when applying multiple coats of paint to not paint the exact color I am trying to cover.  But you know me and painting...

ready to sand (over by the mountain of cardboard boxes that need to be broken down for recycling)

after the first pass at sanding -- you can see on the very right pie section how much gunk was on the base -- I don't even remember where the base came from

Then I sewed the seam closed that Joan needed to open for inserting the sleeve for setting Quillz onto the base's pole.  I never imagined any of those seams would be opened up -- I would have made more of an edge to them.  I think the repair looks fine.  It is not like it is in a spot that is going to be on view much...I was more concerned with the seam staying closed.  I'd be good with it if I was purchasing Quillz for myself.

that first seam that needed to be opened on Wednesday

it doesn't look too bad -- the other seams are either green or orange

when Quillz is on the base I seriously doubt this will be noticeable

I am going to let the paint rest for a day or day-and-a-half before I try to repair the spurty part of the top of the pole.  I am getting very excited for the Opening Reception on First Friday.  Partly because West of Center is my very favorite local juried show and partly because Sue will be going with me.  Sue and I need to do some banking/house stuff on Friday so we are going to turn it into a Girls Night Out -- she will bring Abby and we will do our banking, play board games, go to the opening, and bring dinner back to the house...make a night of it!